Garment or ironing press



April 17, 1934. E. DAVIS GARMENT 0R IRONING PRESS Filed April 14 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1934. E. DAVIS GARMENT 0R IRONING PRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed April 14. 1931 INVEN'f'OR ERNEST DAVIS.

Y %M/Z W QRNEYS.

Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT on IRONING PRESS Application April 14, 1931, Serial No. 529,992

- 15 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines and particularly to garment or ironing presses of the type which are closed under initial light pressure by one power means and closed under final heavy pressure by another power means.

It is common practice in the garment pressing or ironing machine art to employ a small cylinder compressed air motor for closing the pressing elements into preliminaryclosed position, and to use a cylinder of considerably greater diameter, for effecting final heavy pressure of the pressing jaw'elements. The principal object in using two cylinders is to reduce the amount of compressed air required to close the press. The small or low power preliminary closing motor uses a comparatively small volume of air. The high power or heavy pressure cylinder is of relatively large diameter but will use very little volume of air if the clearance or expansion chamber between the piston and the cylinder head of the heavy pressure motor is small at the time the heavy pressure motor goes into operation. It is\thus highly desirable to have the piston of the heavy pressure motor travel as short a distance as possible, or

preferably not travel at all, during the preliminary closing of the press by the low power motor.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a pressing machine having a small compressed air motor for moving the pressingelements into preliminary closed position, and a heavy pressure motor in which the clearance between the cylinder head and piston is as small as possible when the heavy pressure motor goes into operation. A further object of the invention is 05 to provide a pressing machine in which the pressing elements aremoved into preliminary closed position by a small motor, and to provide such a pressing machine with a heavy pressure motor having a floating mounting which permits the heavy pressure motor to follow the preliminary closing movement of the actuating mechanism without any relative movement between the cylinder and piston of the heavy pressure motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pressing machine having a motor for applying heavy pressure, such motor being provided with a floating mounting and with means for maintaining the pressure transmitted by the motor to the-pressing elements substantially uniform regardless of changes in the thickness of the work, or changes in the thickness of the padding on the buck. Such a construction makes it unnecessary to provide a pressing machine with follow-up adjustment means. A further object of the invention is to provide a pressing machine with a novel toggle operating means for moving the pressing elements into preliminary closed position, and novel power means forboosting the toggle to apply fin'al heavy pressure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear and will be pointed out as the description proceeds.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. I 7

Figure .1, is a side elevation, partly in section, of a pressing machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic showing, mostly in section, of the operating and control mechanism of the pressing machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The invention is shown in Figure 1 as applied to a garment or laundry press having a movable jaw or head 11 carried by a yoke lever 12 which is pivotally mounted at 13 on an upstanding portion of a pressing machine frame 14. The yoke lever 12 is movable about the pivotal mounting 13 to carry the head 11 into and out of pressing contact with a stationary jaw or buck 15 which is supported on a neck 16 mounted on the pressing machine frame 14.

The yoke lever 12 is operated by a toggle which includes an upper link 20 pivotally connected at 21 to the yoke lever 12, and a lower link 23 which is pivotally connected at 25 with the upper link 20, and is pivotally connected at 26 with a booster bar '28. The booster bar 28 is, pivotally mounted at 30 on the pressing machine frame. The toggle is operated, into substantially straightened 95 position to close the press into preliminary closed position, by a motor 32 having a piston rod 34 pivotally connected at 36 with one of the toggle links, as the upper link 20. The motor 32 is oscillatably mounted at 38 on the pressing mamo chine frame. A counterspring 40 is connected at one end to the upper link.20 and at its other end to a bracket formed on the motor 32. This counter-spring 40 tends to hold the toggle in broken position so that the press will normally 0 .remain opened. The motor 32 is single acting and moves the toggle links 20 and 23 into substantially straightened position, against the tension of the spring 40, to move the pressing head 11 into preliminary closed position. no

Power is applied to the booster bar 28 to boost the toggle links 20 and 23, when they are in substantially straightened position, to apply heavy pressure to the yoke lever 12 and through it to the pressing head 11. This application of power to the booster bar 28 is effected through a heavy pressure motor 42 having a piston rod 44 which is pivotally connected at 46 to the forward end of the booster bar 28. A tension spring 48 is connected at its lower end to the booster bar 28 and at its upper end to a bracket 50 which is secured to the heavy pressure motor 42. The spring 48 will normally hold the piston rod 44, and the piston which is connected thereto, at the top of their stroke with respect to the heavy pressure motor 42.

When the motor 32 moves the toggle links 20 and 23 into substantially straightened position an upward pressure will be exerted against the pivotal connection 21 and a downward pressure will be exerted against the pivotal connection 26.

The pressure against the pivotal connection 21 will cause the yoke 12 and head 11 to move into against the pivotal connection'26 will cause the booster bar 28 to rock about its pivotal connection 30 in a counter-clockwise direction. This rocking movement of the booster bar 28, during the preliminary closing of the press, is limited by a stop member 52 which is yieldably mounted in a socket 54 which contains a compression spring 56 for normally holding the stop member 52 in its'lowermostposition. The socket 54 is secured to a bracket 58 which is mounted on the pressing machine frame 14. The compression spring 56 is of sufficient strength so that the upward thrust of the booster bar 28 against the less the thickness of the work on the buck, or

, the thickness of the padding on the buck, causes considerable pressure between the pressing elements before the toggle links 20 and 23 have reached substantially straightened position. The strength of the spring 56 determines the degree of pressurein preliminary closed position.

The heavy pressure motor 42 is oscillatably mounted on the pressing machine frame 14 by suitable means such as a ball and socket bearing 60. Thefioating mounting of the heavy pressure motor 42 will be described more fully in connection with Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2, the motor 32 includes a cylinder "70 which contains a piston '72 rigidly valves '76 and '78 in normal position and these valves are manually operated by a push button 84which transmits motion through a bell crank 86 to an intermediate lever 88 which thrusts a ainst a stem 90 of the exhaust valve '78. The valves '76 and '78 are locked in operated position when pressure is admitted to a diaphragm chamber 92 which contains a diaphragm 94. This diaphragm 94 acts against a plunger 96 which contacts with one end of the intermediate lever 88 to hold the same in operated position.

Working fluid is supplied to the valve casing '75 through a working fluid supply line 96 and branch pipe 98. When the push button 84 is operated to open the intake valve 76 and close the exhaust valve '78 working fluid from the fluid supply'line 96 will flow through the branch pipe 98, around the open intake valve 76, through the valve casing '75, and pipe '74, to the motor 32 to operate the piston '72 and piston rod 34 which moves the pressing elements into preliminary closed position as previously described.

In order to provide a two-hand control so that it will be necessary for the operator to use both hands to close the press a second valve casing '105 is provided and this valve casing connects direct- 1y with the fluid supply line 96, and connects by a pipe 106 with the pipe '74 which supplies air to the motor 32. The valve mechanism and looking means for the valve casing 105 is identical in construction and operation with that described in connection with valve casing '75. A push button 108 operates the valves in the valve casing 105 through mechanism identical to that used for transmitting motion from the push button 84 to the valves in the valve casing '75.

A port 110 is provided in the wall of the cyl inder '70 and this port is connected by suitable pipe conduits with the diaphragm chambers of the valve casing '75 and 105. The port 110 is located in position so that the piston '72 will uncover this. port 110 at approximately. the same time that the pressing elements reach preliminary closed position and the working fluid which passes through the port 110, after it is uncovered by the piston '72, will actuate the diaphragms to lock the valves in the valve casings '75 and 105 in operated position. Pressure in the diaphragm chambers is released by a release lever 112 which opens a normally closed valve 114 in a valve casing 116 which is connected by a suitable pipe conduit with the diaphragm chambers. The two-hand control mechanism above described and the locking means forms no part of the present invention but is shown in the patent application of Frederick W. Sauerbrey, filed August 1, 1930. So far as this invention is concerned any other suitable control mechanism may be used.

The heavy pressure motor 42 includes a cylin der 120 containing a piston 122 which is rigidly connected to the piston rod 44. The upper end of the cylinder 120 is formed witha portion 125 one face of which is formed with teeth to provide a rack 126. The portion 125 which is formed with the rack 126 is slidably mounted in a mounting member 128 which is secured to the frame by the ball and socket connection 60.

The mounting of the rack portion 125 in the mounting member 128 is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The rack portion 125 is provided with a set screw 130 which operates in a slot 132 to limit the sliding movement of the rack portion 125 in the mounting member 128. A pinion 134 meshes with the teeth of the rack 126 and this pinion 134 ismounted, as by splines, on a shaft 136 which permits sliding movement of the shaft through the pinion. The shaft 136 is slidably mounted through the pinion 134 and in the mounting member 128 for sliding movement at right angles to thesliding movement of the gear rack portion 125. This mechanism forms a sliding connection.

The shaft 136 extends into a cylinder 13'7 and is provided with a disk 140, which is rigidly secured to the shaft 136 so as to turn and slide as a unit with the shaft 136. The disk 140 is provided on one face with a friction surface 142, preferably of wedge formation. which engages with a comtact with a cylinder head 150, of the cylinder 137,

the end of the shaft 136 contacts with the piston 148 to limit further movement of the shaft 136 under influence of the spring 144. The friction surfaces with their. associated mechanism form a locking means for the sliding connection. The sliding connection need not be between the heavy pressure motor 42 and the frame, but may beat any point in the means which provides or applies heavy pressure between the press jaws 11 and 15. Any operating mechanismin addition to the toggle is also contemplated. e

A flexible hose connection 152 connects the cylinder 137 with the cylinder 120. Working fluid is supplied to the cylinder 137 through a pipe 155 which receives a supply of working fluid in a manner later to be described. When working fluid is supplied through the pipe 155 to the cylinder 137 the piston 148 will be moved to the left in Figure 2 to shift the shaft 136 and bring the plemental face on the mounting member 128 will hold the shaft 136 against rotation. Since the pinion 134 is splined on the shaft 136 the friction surface 142 will also act as a brake to hold the pinion 134 against rotation. When the brake is thus applied to the pinion 134 to lock the same against rotation the rack portion 125 will be held against sliding movement in the mounting member 128. The floating mounting of the motor 42 may be thus locked in extended position.

The supply of working fluid through the pipe 155 to the cylinder 137 to lock the rack member 125 against further sliding movement, as above described, will also supply working fluid through the flexible hose connection 152 to the heavy pressure motor 42. It will be apparent therefore that the mounting of the motor 42 is locked against floating action automatically when working fluid is supplied to the heavy 42.

The supply of working fluid to the pipe 155 is controlled by valves in a valve casing 160. The,

.mal position. One end of the valve casing 160,

beyond the intake valve 164, is connected toa working fluid supply line 168 which may connect with the same source of working fluid as in the case of the fluid supply line 96.

The valves 162 and 164 are operated by a rocker arm 170 which contacts with a valve stem 172 of the exhaust valve 162. The rocker arm 170 is operated by a push rod 174 which extends through one end of the cylinder 70 and is provided with enlarged end portions to limit its travel in each direction. A spring 175 normally holds the push rod 174 as far as possible within pressure motor move the pressing elements into preliminary closed position it will strike the push rod 174 and operate the rocker arm 170 to close the exhaust valve 162 and open the intake valve 164. It will be noted that the piston 72 strikes the push rod 174 when the piston is substantially at the end of its stroke. As soon as the motor 32 has completed movement of the pressing elements into preliminary closed position therefore, the valve 164 will be automatically operated to supply working fluid to the heavy pressure motor means 42.

The operation of the pressing machine is as follows:--

When the operator wishes to close the press he will depress the push buttons 84 and 108 which operate two-hand control mechanism to supply working fluid to the motor 32.. The motor .32 will move the toggle links 20 and 23 into straightened or substantially straightenedposition against the 96 tension ofthe spring 40. During such straightening movement of the toggle 20 and 23 the yoke lever 12 and head 11 will be moved into preliminary closed position and. the booster bar 28 will be rocked about its pivotal mounting 30 100 until it contacts with the stop member 52.-

During this preliminary closing movement of the press the spring 48 'willhold thepiston rod 42 as far as possible within the cylinder of the heavy pressure motor 42 and the heavy pressure motor 42 will'move as a unit, with a floating action, in the mounting member 128. The construction described has therefore the following .result or operation. In the inital or preliminary closing of the press, there is no resistance to the straightening of the toggle until the head 11 contacts with the buck 15 Resistance is set up by the head 11 contacting with the buck 15, but this resistance is only upon one end of the toggle 20, 23, whereas the other end is still free to move. Further straightening of the toggle 20, 23 by the motor 32, will push downwardly on the pivot 26 until the booster bar 28 engages the stop member 52. Thereafter the'ends of the toggle 20, 23 move in both directions with the resistance or pressure set up between the jaws 11 and 15 being balanced by the resistance or force set up by the spring 56 of the stop member 52. The booster bar 28 and heavy presure motor 42 is free to .move because of the floating or movable mounting provided by the mounting member128.

Itmay be that the stop member 52 is engaged by the booster bar 28 before the head 11 engages the buck 15. In thiscase, the toggle 20, 23 continues to straighten in the direction of least resistance and moves the pivot 21 upwardly until the head 11 engages the buck 15. It is immaterial, therefore, whether the head 11 engages the buck 15 before or after the booster bar 28 has engaged the stop member 52. The pressure be-" tween the jaws 11 and 15 in preliminary closed position is determined. then by the spring 56.

.It will be noted that the heavy pressure motor 42 is free to shift its position until the press is preliminarily closed without relative movement and its automatic control valve means 160 and is then'actuated to move the booster bar 120 the cylinder. When thepiston 72 is actuated to and apply heavy pressure between the jaws 11 der 120.

and 14. This bodily shifting of the position of the heavy pressure motor until the press is pre- Y liminarily closed,keeps the piston 122 at the end .motor 42 is thereforeusefully applied to deliver heavy pressure between the jaws and no air is wasted from excess cylindervolume or clearance between the piston 122 and the end of the cylin As the piston 72 approaches the end of its stroke it will operate the valves in the valve casing 160,

as previously described, and supply working fluid to the cylinder 13'? which operates the braking or clutching mechanism for locking the heavy pres-.

sure motor 42 against further floating action.

Working fluid from thecylinder113'7 will pass throughthe flexible hose connection 152, to the heavy pressure motor 42. Since the heavy pres-.

sure motor 42 is locked against further floating movement the cylinder of the heavy pressure motor v42 will be held against retrograde movement, with respect to the mounting member 128. The pressure in the heavy pressure motor 42 will operate the piston and piston rod 44 to rock the I so booster bar 28 in a clockwise direction to boost the toggle links 20 and 23 andapply heavy pressure to the yoke lever 12 and the pressing ele-- ments. During this boosting action the motor 32 will hold the toggle links 20 and 23 in straightened position and prevent their folding under the boosting pressure.

yWhen the operator wishes to open the press he will release the trip lever 112 to open the release valve 114 and release thepressure from the diaphragm chambers so that the exhaust valve '78, and the other valves. of the two-hand control mechanism, may return to normal position. Working fluid-from the fluid motor 32 will then exhaust and the spring 140 will move the toggle links 20 and 23 into broken position. The initial return movement of the piston-'12 will permit the spring 166 to close the intake valve 164 and open theexhaust valve 162 in the valve casing 160 so that working fluid from the heavy pressure motor 42, and the lock operating cylinder 137, will exhaust through the pipe 155 and past the open exhaust valve 162. The spring 48 will immediately return the piston rod 44 and piston of the heavy pressure motor to their normal raised position.

'From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a pressing machine is which heavy pressure is applied automatically, but which uses the m'nimum amount or volume of air for effecting heavy. pressure in that the clearance in the cylinder of the heavy pressuremotor is. always at a minimum when the heavy pressure motor is actuated. It will be further apparent that due to the floating mounting of the heavypressure motor the closing of the press into prelim'nary closed position, and the subsequent autBmatic operation of the heavy pressure motor, will operate with equal efliciency regardless of the thickness of the work or the permanent set of the padding on the buck.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment but changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination, a frame; cooperative pressing elements and operating mechanism therefor, including means for preliminarily closing the press; a motor means, one element of which is connected to the operating mechanism to finally close the 1 press under heavy pressure; means interposed between the other element of the motor means and the frame to connect said other element'to the frame so that said motor means may shift as a unitrelative to the frame during the preliminary closing of thepress, and locking means coacting with said connecting means and operable to prevent the said other element of the motor means fromshifting .movement relative to the frame when said motor means is actuated.

3. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination, a frame; cooperative pressing ele-- ments and operating mechanism therefor, including means for preliminarily closing the press;

motor means, one element of which is connected to the operating mechanism to finally close the press under heavy pressure; means interposed betweentthe other element of the motor means .and the frame to connect said other element to means is actuated- 4. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other,

operating mechanism including a low power motor connected with the movable jaw to preliminarily close the press, means connected with the operating mechanism to apply heavy pressure to thepress including, a heavy pressure motor means, a sliding connection between said-heavy pressure motor means and the frame and normally free to. slide to afiordbodily movement of said heavy pressure motor means while the press is closing preliminarily, and means locking the sliding connection in position and hence fixing the heavy pressure motor means in relation to the frame upon the press being preliminarily closed and the heavy pressure motor means being actuated.

5. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, operating mechanism including a low power motor connected with the movable jaw, to preliminarily close the press, means connected with the operating mechanism to applyheavy pressure to the press including, a heavy pressure motor means having a piston and cylinder, means resiliently retaining the piston at the end of the cylinder, a sliding connection betweensaid heavy pressure motor means and the frame and normally free to slide while the press is closing preliminarily, 5

and a fluid pressure clutching means locking the sliding connection in fixed position upon the press being preliminarily closed and the heavy pressure motor means being actuated;

i 6. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, a toggle connected at one end thereof with the movable jaw, means connected with the toggle to operate the same and preliminarily close the press, means connected with the other end oi! the toggle to apply heavy pressure including, a heavy pressure motor means, a sliding connection in said heavy pressure means and normally free to slide while the press is closing preliminarily, and means locking the sliding connection in position upon the press being preliminarily closed and the heavy pressure motor means being actuated.

7. In a garment or ironing press'in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other,'a toggle connected at one end thereof with the movable jaw, a booster lever pivoted to the frame and pivotally connected to the other end of the toggle, means connected with the booster lever to apply heavy pressure to the press including, a heavy pressure motor means, a sliding connection in said heavy pressure means and normally tree to slide while the press is closing preliminarily, and means locking the sliding connection in position upon the press being preliminarily closed and the heavy pressure motor means being actuated.

8. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, operating mechanism connected with the movable jaw to preliminarily close the press including, a preliminary closing motor means, means connected with the operating mechanism to apply heavy pressure to the press including, a heavy pressure motor means, a sliding connection in said heavy pressure means and normally free to slide while the press is closing preliminarily, motor means locking the sliding connection in position, and means connecting the heavy pressure motor means and the locking motor means to a source of power upon preliminary closing of the press.

9. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, operating mechanism connected with the movable jaw to preliminarily close the press, means connected with the operating mechanism to apply heavy pressure to the press including means for applying a heavy pressure to the press jaws, a sliding connection in said heavy pressure means and normally free to slide while the press is closing preliminarily, said sliding connection having two members slidable relatively to each other, means locking the sliding members against relative sliding movement including a rack upon one ,member, a pinion on the other member meshing with the rack and rotatable thereby, means mounting the pinion for axial movement, a stationary brake member carried upon the mounting means adjacent the pinion, a cooperating brake member carried with the pinion and movable therewith to engage the stationary brake member and lock the pinion against rotation, and means to' move the pinion and cooperating brake member axially upon preliminary closing of the press.

10. In a garment or ironing press in combina:

tion, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, operating mechanism connected with the movable jaw to preliminarily close the press, means connected with the operating mechanism to apply heavy pressure to the press including, a heavy pressure motor means, a sliding connection in said heavy pressure means and normally tree to slide while the press is closing preliminarily, said sliding connection having two members slidable relatively to each other, means locking the sliding members against relative sliding movement including a rack upon one member, a pinion on the other member meshing with the rack and rotatable thereby, means mounting the pinion for axial movement, a stationary brake member carried upon the mounting means adjacent the pinion, a cooperating brake member carried with the pinion andmovable therewith to engage the stationary brake member and lock the pinion against rotation, and means to move the pinion and cooperating brake member axially upon preliminary closing of the press.

11. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, operating mechanism connected with the movable jaw to preliminarily close the press, means connected with the operating mechanism toapply heavy pressure to the press including, a heavy pressure motor means, a sliding connection in said heavy pressuremeans and normally tree to slide while the press is closing preliminarily, said sliding connection having two members slidable relatively to each other, means locking the sliding members against relative sliding movement including a rack upon one member, a pinion on the other member meshing with the rack and rotatable thereby, means mounting the pinion .ror axial movement, a stationary brake member carried upon the mounting means adjacent the pinion, a cooperating brake member can'ied with the pinion and movable therewith to engage thestationary brake member and lock the pinion against rotation, brake motor means to move the pinion and cooperating brake member axially, and control means connected with the motor means and operable by the press as the movable press jaw reaches preliminarily closed position to actuate the motor means and lock the sliding connection against movement.

12. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of= rotatable thereby, means mounting the pinion for axial movement, a stationary brake member carried upon the mounting means adjacent the pinion, a cooperating brake member carried with the pinion and movable therewith to engage the stationary brake member and lock the pinion against rotation, brake motor means to move the pinion and cooperating brake member axially, and control means connected with the brake motor means and the heavy pressure motor means and operable by the press as the movable press jaw reaches preliminarily closed position to actuate the locking means and the heavy pressure motor means.

13. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, operating mechanism connected with the movable jaw to connection normally free to slide while the press is preliminarily closing, and means locking the sliding connection in position by the press when the movable press jaw is preliminarily closed to lock the sliding connection against relative movement.

14. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of qwhich is movable towards and from the other,

operating mechanism connected with the movable jaw to preliminarily close the press including, a toggle having a throw greater than that needed to bring the jaws into contact and connected at one end with the movable jaw, a movable lever carried by the frame and connected to the other end of the toggle, resilient means engaging the lever and restraining at least a part of its movement, means to straighten the toggle to full straightened position, and mechanism connected to the movable lever to apply heavy pressure to means, a sliding connection normally free to slide while the press is preliminarily closing, means locking the sliding connection in position by the press when the movable press jaw is preliminarily closed to lock the sliding connection against relative movement, and control means connected with the heavy pressure motor meant and operable when the press is preliminarily closed to apply heavy pressure between the press aws.

15. In a garment or ironing press in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws one of which is movable towards and from the other, operating mechanism connected with the movable jaw to preliminarily close the press including, a toggle having a throw greater than that needed to bring the jaws into contact and connected at one end second motor means connected with and actuating the locking means, and control means connected with the heavy pressure motor means and the second motor means and automatically operable by the press upon the movable press jaw being preliminarily closed to lock the sliding connection and apply heavy pressure between the jaws.

ERNEST DAVIS.

the press jaws including, heavy pressure motor 

